Propane prices

charlz · Dec 10, 2008

zionview said:
I just got propane for heating my shop last week. $4.89/gallon. My BIL got for house heat for $4.09. This area goes by zones, usage, intended purpose, size of tank-any excuse to jack up the price. I worked for one outfit for four winters, and I can't figure the pricing out either. I only used 73 gallons last year, and that set the usage for this year. Had I used 100+ gallons, I would have gotten a cheaper price, but you can't tell by the tank how much you use(the gauges on the tanks aren't reliable). If I could get propane for $2/gallon, I'd be wearing shorts and a sandles in the shop.

Are you kidding? At $4/gallon when other areas are paying $2/gallon I'd be calling the State Attorney General for an investigation.

schmism · Dec 11, 2008

there is another thread floating around with prices that was started recently also.

2.09 hear in central IL (hr outside STlouis MO)

rcowan · Dec 12, 2008

$2.35 here from $2.75 a month ago.

sunspot · Jan 12, 2009

I called Ferrellgas for a price delivered to my house.

$3.61 per gallon. I asked about dropping prices and the rep said there has been no price drops. It has been going up for over a year. The nice rep suggested I call around to other companies so I did.

Of the 2 local companies, one was $3.18 and the other was $2.69.

Even though I have a leased tank, It's not marked as one. I'll try to have the low bidder come out for a fill-up. I have a 300 gallon tank that's down to 20% or 60 gallons.

I don't know what my usage is due to have a heat pump installed with a gas piggy back, so what with fuel going back up in price, I might take the chance to buy at a low (?) price.

I only use gas for the heater.

Erik_in_Hoyt · Jan 12, 2009

I prepaid at $2.19 in September - by late October the price had dropped $.30 or so a gallon. not sure what it is right now.

schmism · Jan 12, 2009

sunspot said:
I don't know what my usage is due to have a heat pump installed with a gas piggy back, so what with fuel going back up in price, I might take the chance to buy at a low (?) price.

I only use gas for the heater.

who supplied you with gas last time? Our supplier keeps record or last delivery date and amount and is shown on your recipt when you buy your new gas (has space for the previous 4 buy's) so thtat way if you didnt write it down you can still keep a record of how much you bought when. (ie how much you used in a given time)

I started watching the tank guage every week in the middle of winter and was able to chart about a 3% tank usage per week in the dead of winter. That held true for about 2 months worth of usage and allowed me to play the "guessing game" of when i would need fuel again and skip the high priced winter fuel surcharge when i filled up in march at 7%.

Simply create a log of avg outside temp per week and tank reading for the same week. YOu'll quickly correlate a useage amount to outside temp (like you dont use any unless the outside temp drop below _____)

2manyrocks · Jan 12, 2009

Part of your confusion may be that if you take your tank in to be filled, they weigh the tank, and probably have a charge based on a tank fill at the gas company. If you have a larger tank (250 or 500 gallon) at your house that they come out to fill, then they tend to charge by the gallon. Last time I checked in mid December, I was quoted $2.78, $2.69 and $2.19 a gallon at three different places. I asked why so much compared to last year. Was told it was run up in fuel prices and the company bought propane when it was high and are passing it along to consumers. Compared to unleaded gas here at $1.60 gallon now, propane is about $1.00 gallon more expensive.

Uncle Doug · Jan 14, 2009

Here in SE Texas it was $2.99 a gallon this week. A couple of months ago when business was slow they were calling around and offered it for $2.49. I should of filled up then instead of just getting 100 gallons.

As propane gas is not related to the price of oil, falling prices there will not help much. Demand does have a effect. I try and top off my tank during the summer when it tends to be a little cheaper.

Leased tanks are where they get you. You are locked into their trucks. I have a friend who workes for another company and I called him to see what the going price was and it was about 0.50 cheaper.

SnowRidge · Jan 14, 2009

Uncle Doug said:
As propane gas is not related to the price of oil, falling prices there will not help much. Demand does have a effect.

Propane pricing is related to oil prices in that propane competes with heating oil as a heating fuel. Propane prices tend to follow heating oil prices. This may have decoupled somewhat due to the precipitous drop in oil prices, but in the end you can expect them to track closely once again.